DEMOKRITOS - Key Persons
Dr Petrakis holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught in several universities in the US and Europe, worked in the private sector, and for ten years he was at the Brookhaven National Laboratory he served as Senior Scientist and Department Chairman leading a department of over 150 PhD's in research in Energy and the Environment. He has authored or edited six books and over 150 scientific research papers in peer-reviewed journals.)
In the recent past there have been issues that have strained the great friendship between the two close and traditional allies -the USA and Greece. The most vexing problem has been that Henry Kissinger did not stop the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, and the US has not restrained Turkey's continuing aggressiveness in the Aegean, even as she seeks to gain entry into the European Union. But, following the 2004 Athens Olympics that were held with exemplary dignity and safety, an example to future host countries, there has been a continuing reaffirmation of that friendship, which has deep roots to the beginnings of both countries.
Nick Petris attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate and is a graduate of Stanford University School of Law, where he was a classmate of Warren Christopher, the former Secretary of State. Nick Petris enjoys extensive name recognition within California (otherwise known as the golden boy of the State) and is blessed with a galaxy of friends and admirers in America and in Greece.
He is a life long democrat and a friend of the late Andreas Papandreou, and participated (together with some UC Berkeley Professors), very vigorously, in the efforts which culminated in the release of his friend from jail, during the junta's tenure. In his book entitled Balkan Ghosts, Robert D. Kaplan describes how the efforts of many Americans finally succeeded to spring Andreas Papandreou from jail. President Lyndon Johnson, reportedly advised the Greek Ambassador: "You tell Papa-what's his name, to release the other Papa-what's his name". Andreas Papandreou was released and went temporarily into exile in Sweden and then to Canada.
The contributions of Nick Petris to the State of California, to the Greek-American Community, and to the Greek Nation, during his long years of service in the California legislature, have been enormous. This man is truly exceptional (he speaks Greek fluently, quotes Greek philosophers in his speeches, and never... lost an election!). Thus, this scholarly, articulate and eloquent politician, constitutes a remarkable case study, for all of our young people, who aspire to run for public office in America.
Nick Petris, with his brilliant political career and his astonishing popularity among minority groups in "the United States of California" (population about 32 million and rising), represents a magnificent paradigm, which illustrates, the powerful influence of the Hellenic Heritage, on his remarkable successes and his solid accomplishments, as a veritable American politician.
Nick Petris, is simply, a man for all seasons, who for decades, has been a source of pride for California Hellenes and for Hellene Americans, from coast to coast. This is why, the emotional ceremony at UC Berkeley (the greatest University in the World, as he said), coupled with the State Attorney General's extraordinary accolades, during the launching of the Nicholas C. Petris Research Center, were in effect, a very special and distinct honor, bestowed on this stellar member of our Community, right here, in the most populous State of the Union.
We are extremely proud of Nicholas C. Petris and his new Research Center at UC Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- President of the USA and the Author of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the USA and the author of the Declaration of Independence, was intimately familiar with classical Greek ideals and culture, which played an important role along with the ideals of the Enlightenment in formulating the principles on which the American Republic was founded. In fact, Thomas Jefferson was fluent in classical Greek, and prided himself that he could read the classics in the original. In 1800 Jefferson wrote to the famous chemist Dr. Joseph Priestley: "I enjoy Homer in his own language infinitely beyond Pope's translation…. and I thank on my knees Him who directed my early education for having put into my possession this rich source of delight."